Intraflight communication

The communication between you and your flight members usually happens via the MIDS Radios in the F18. They offer the best quality, and leave the two UHF/VHF Radios open for communication with ATC, Ground Controller, JTAC, TACCOM, etc.

The communication here is not as strict as on frequencies with other flights or controllers. You should still keep the messages short and informative, but if you are outside of critical phases of the flight like landing, take-off or engagements, you are allowed to talk more freely. 

For convenience, you usually dont say you full callsign here, instead you only use the number you have in your specific flight. 

Example:

(You are Phobetor 2-3, and your leader just gave you a direct order. To tell him that you undertood the order, you can simply say "3".)

Phobetor 2-1: "3, go into fingertip formation"

Phobetor 2-3: "3"